Machine for manufacturing sheet-metal wheels.



N0. 659,723. Patented Dct. I6, |900.

E. WILLIAMS.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING SHEET METAL WHEELS.

(Application Bled Jan, 28, 1900.)

(No Model.)

L I l L'. uuu u "ME H ;'fa :i G H FFICE.

PATENT EDWARD 'WILLIAB/IS, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING SHEET-METAL WHEELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,723, dated October 16 1900.

Application filed January 23, 1900. serial No. 2,495. {No model.)

.T0 a/ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD WILLIAMS, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of 48 Benson road, in the city of Birmingham, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Chain and other Gear Wheels, (for which I have filed an application in Great Britain, No. 13,696, bearingdate July 3, 1899,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of improvements relating to chain and other gear Wheels as employed on cycles and other machines, my object being to produce such Wheels of light weight but of great strength and durability in a more expeditious and economical manner than heretofore.

On the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings, Figure l is an elevation of the special mechanism I employ in the manufacture of wheels in accordance with my invention, one part of such mechanism being shown in the out-of-service position. Fig. 2 is an elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan, showing the Whole of the mechanism in position for action or service. Fig. 4 is an end elevation showing to a larger scale a portion of the rimformng roll, the gear-wheel disk or blank, and the blank-clamping plates.

The same reference-letters in the different views indicate the same parts.

I produce wheels in accordance with my invention from sheet metal, preferably from cold bright rolled sheet-steel, the thickness of the sheet being equal only to the required thickness of the arms, spokes, or central web of the wheels. From such sheet I stamp or otherwise out out circular blanks of a diameter rather larger than that of the required finished wheel and make a central eye or aperture through each. For the purpose of forming a rim of the requiredv Width and thickness I mount each disk between a pair of clamping-plates A A', having gudgeons a a mounted in an arm or bracket B, pivoted to the framing C. The two clamping-plates,

with the Wheel disk or blank between them, are rigidly connected together by the clamping bolts and nuts, as D, the said bolts passing through holes formed in the blank. The peripheries of the circular clam ping-plates A A are grooved on their inner sides, and the roll E has a plain central groove cut around its periphery, as illustrated at Fig. 4. The space inclosed by the said grooves (Where the roll E is adjacent to the plates A A) constitutes the mold or die for the formation of the rim F, the metal at the periphery of the blank being caused by the pressure imposed upon it to oW or assume .the shape of the said die-space. Such pressure I impose by forcingthe blank periphery onto the grooved roll E, which is clamped in position on the screwed shaft G by nuts H H and driven through gearing arranged in any ordinary manner. The periphery of the blank or disk of metal mounted between the plates A A is fed onto the grooved periphery of the rotating roll E, preferably by the gradual descent ofthe pivoted arm or bracket B from the position shown at Fig. l to the position indicated at Fig. 2, such descent being effected by means of any suitable and ordinary mechanical device for turning the arm or bracket B about its pivot-supports. The periphery of the blank being thus forced into contact with the grooved roll E, rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow l, the blank and the plates A A will be caused to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 2, and as the movement of the turning gear is gradually continued the metal at the periphery of the blank will be caused to flow and fill the die-space formed by the grooves of the roll E and the plates A A', and thus to assume the rim form, as shown at F, Fig. 4.

Adjustment of the position of the pivoted bracket to suit wheelblanks of varying diameters is effected by means of the screws J J and abutment-blocks K K.

I sometimes form the teeth in the Wheel simultaneously with the formation of the rim by the employment of a roll having the required depressions formed in the groove around its periphery instead of the plain grooved roll A, as hereinbefore described, or I may form the teeth after the formation of the rib and in one way by stamping out the portions corresponding with the teeth-spaces and subsequently finishing the rim by subjecting it to the rolling and pressing action with the before-mentioned recessed and grooved roll.

I pierce the blank as may be necessaryfor IOO the formation of arms or spokes or of a perforated Vcenter of the required design and. machine the inner edges and other parts in any ordinary manner.

Having thus described my inventionywhatm I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters n,

Wheel-"blankand having gudgeons a and a re- 1. In machines for the manufacture of sheetmetal wheels for chain and other driving gear,the combination with a positively-driven grooved roll E, of rotatable clamping-plates A A secured by bolts and nuts D to the `0pf posite sides of the required Wheel-blank, an arm B in which said plates are journaled and means for slidingly pivoting said arm to the frame C, substantially as described.

l 2. In machines for the manufacture of sheetmetal Wheels for chain and` other driving gear,the combination with a. positively-driven roll having a peripheral groove, of rotatable clamping-plates A A secured by bolts and nuts D to the opposite sides of the required 

